Blackfoot man missing in Arizona

January 22, 2013

Retired Blackfoot resident Laurence J. "Jack" Doering, 82, who has been wintering in the Yuma, Ariz. area with his life Leah, has been missing since Jan. 17. According to [Leah] Doering's daugher, Sandra Chamberlain, [Jack] Doering has suffered from Alzheimer's disease for the past four years and is likely "lost and confused."
The Yuma County Sheriff's Office reports that [Jack] Doering was last seen at the Foothills Plaza Shopping Center near Yuma on Thursday at approximately 9:45 a.m.
Chamberlain said that Jack and Leah, along with their daughter-in-law Holly Doering, were at the plaza getting haircuts, when [Jack] Doering, who does not normally drive, got ahold of the car keys and drove off by himself in a tan/grey 2002 Chevrolet Suburban with Idaho license plates.
"He had a 100 dollar bill in his wallet and a quarter tank of gas - no food, no change of clothing. That's not going to get him too far," said Chamberlain. "We are very concerned about his wellbeing."
While some are speculating that [Jack] Doering may be trying to get back to Blackfoot, Chamberlain contends that his Alzheimer's is too bad and that he "doesn't know where he is or where he is going."
[Jack] Doering is 6 feet, 1 inch tall and weighs around 170 pounds. He has gray hair and blue eyes. Jack and Leah have been married for approximately 10 years and have lived in Blackfoot throughout their marriage.
Anyone with information on [Jack] Doering can call the Yuma County Sheriff's office at 928-783-4427 or the Blackfoot Police Department at 208-785-1234.